12-Nights John Muir Trail: Northbound to Yosemite

Fresno

Fresno, California, lies in the center of one of the most productive agricultural regions in the U.S.: Trucks piled high with tomatoes or melons pass cars on the highway, many businesses in Fresno are farm-related, and "agrotourism"—tours of farms, orchards and wineries—is popular with visitors, especially families.

Fresno is the largest city in California's Central Valley. The downtown appeals to visitors with its lively mix of old and new, gritty and chic, with coffee shops, restaurants and vintage-clothing shops next to old theaters and warehouses.

Being in the center of the fertile San Joaquin Valley, it's no wonder that Fresno also has wineries of its own—including the Madera Wine Trail. http://www.maderawinetrail.com.

One of the most intriguing gardens in California is Baldassare Forestiere's Underground Garden. Transplanted from the founder's native Sicily, the fruit trees, vines and shrubs are all planted in sunny openings of subterranean courtyards and passageways. The garden is still run by Forestiere's great nephew. http://www.undergroundgardens.com.

Fresno's holdovers from the past include intriguing historic architecture and more than 30 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Among them are the Water Tower, Tower Theater and Kearney Mansion Museum. In addition, the city of Fresno, California, is a good jumping-off point for visits to Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks.

Muir Woods

Muir Woods is known for it's unique ecosystem and giant redwood trees.  The woods contain several different trails and hikes that extend to surrounding parks. Other activities for visitors include pets, bicycling, and horseback riding. Because Muir woods is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area there are many natural sites to explore. Visitors can visit Muir beach and have a bonfire or picnic, or visit beautiful Point Bonita Lighthouse.

Mammoth Lakes, CA

The Mammoth Lakes area is notable because it gets an unusually large amount of snow compared to other peaks in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, which lies in the Inyo National Forest. This has made Mammoth Mountain one of the premier ski destinations on the West Coast.

The ski area is built on the north side of Mammoth Mountain, located in the volcanic Long Valley Caldera. Mammoth, as it is known to most, has more than 3,500 acres/1,400 hectares of skiable terrain, serviced by 28 lifts. The mountain rises to an elevation of 11,053 ft/3,368 m.

The top of the mountain has challenging chutes and open mogul runs. There are three main terrain parks branded "Unbound" at Mammoth. Unbound Main, located adjacent to Main Lodge, is one of the major attractions of the ski resort. Many of the top professional snowboarders practice and compete in the 18-ft/5.5-m and 22-ft/7-m super pipes. http://www.mammothmountain.com.

Mammoth Mountain also has one of the longest ski seasons in North America, which usually runs November-June. Mammoth receives an average of nearly 400 in/1,016 cm of snow per season. Cross-country skiers will find miles/kilometers of groomed trails from Tamarack Cross Country Center and the Mammoth Lakes Nordic Trail System. Other popular winter diversions include snowmobiles and tubing.

In the summer months, the ski gondolas are used by mountain bikers and tourists who wish to get a spectacular summit view of Long Valley Caldera directly to the east and Sierra peaks to the west, south and north. The area also draws golfers and fishermen looking to catch some of the lakes' trout.

When you're ready to take a break from activities, nearby attractions to explore include the Obsidian Dome—a huge dome of volcanic glass—and Devil's Postpile National Monument, featuring huge basalt columns. http://www.visitmammoth.com.

Yosemite National Park